mean-spirited

mean-spirited
meanspirited mean"spir`it*ed, mean-spirited mean"-spir`it*ed, a. 1. Of a mean spirit; petty; small-minded; base; groveling; -- of people. -- {Mean"-spir`it*ed*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]

2. Done for malevolent reasons; -- of deeds and actions.

Syn: base, contemptible, currish, mean, meanspirited, scurvy. [WordNet 1.5]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • mean-spirited — (adj.) also meanspirited, 1690s, from MEAN (Cf. mean) (adj.1) + SPIRITED (Cf. spirited). Ancient Greek had the same image in mikropsykhos …   Etymology dictionary

  • mean-spirited — [mēn′spir′it id] adj. characterized by or displaying a propensity to be mean; selfish, malicious, etc. mean spiritedness n. * * * mean spir·it·ed or mean·spir·it·ed (mēnʹspĭrʹĭ tĭd) adj. Having or characterized by a malicious or petty spirit.  … …   Universalium

  • mean-spirited — [mēn′spir′it id] adj. characterized by or displaying a propensity to be mean; selfish, malicious, etc. mean spiritedness n …   English World dictionary

  • mean-spirited — index caitiff Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • mean-spirited — adj not generous or sympathetic …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • mean-spirited — adjective Having a base, nasty, petty, or malevolent disposition. My old acquaintances would sneer at me as a mean spirited cur, whose best exploit was to get in jail …   Wiktionary

  • mean-spirited — adjective not generous or sympathetic: a mean spirited, jealous man …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • mean-spirited — mean spirˈited adjective • • • Main Entry: ↑mean …   Useful english dictionary

  • mean-spirited — adjective Date: 1694 exhibiting or characterized by meanness of spirit • mean spiritedness noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mean-spirited — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) adj. abject, groveling; contemptible, petty. See narrowness. Ant., generous. II (Roget s IV) modif. Syn. base, timid, servile; see cowardly , mean 1 , weak 3 …   English dictionary for students

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